Why procrastination is not the devil, your lack of discipline is!

Got a deadline and keep pushing it out because you keep putting it off?

Got a case of ‘I’ll do it later or tomorrow or even next week’ but this is becoming theme?

Feeling like you should have done XYZ and the anxiety that comes with a growing to-do list.

Not to mention the frustration with yourself for not ‘just getting it done’!

We’re all guilty of this in different forms, but some of us are at risk of becoming a professional procrastinator!

And the key to turning this around is actually the thing you’re avoiding and that’s taking some action. Exercising some good old-fashioned self-discipline because this is what’s holding you back.

Procrastination is the symptom, not the cause. And the good news, it’s also a habit. And habits can be broken.

Procrastination is often seen as a negative behaviour, but it is not inherently bad. It can be a coping mechanism for stress, a fear of failure or a sign of poor time management skills.

However, the real issue is not the act of procrastination, but rather the lack of discipline to overcome it and get things done. Without discipline, procrastination can become a habit that leads to missed deadlines, lower productivity, and frustration with your own performance.

People procrastinate for different reasons. Maybe the drive to delay is irrationally stronger than the drive to act. But why? What is at the root of procrastination? If we can bring awareness to that, we have something to work with as a way of getting beyond it!

Why do people procrastinate?

1. Self-sabotage

   Setting yourself up to fail by delaying a task, usually driven by self-doubt and a self-fulfilling prophecy.

2. Fear of failure or success

   Avoiding a task because you’re afraid of not being able to do it well or of the consequences of success.

3. Perfectionism

   Wanting to do everything perfectly can lead to putting off a task until all the conditions are right.

4. Boredom or lack of interest

   Tasks that are mundane, tedious, or uninteresting often avoided.

5. Difficulty making decisions

   The inability to commit and make a decision about how to approach a task can lead to procrastination.

6. Overwhelm or anxiety

   If you perceive the task to be complex or difficulty this can lead to procrastination.

7. Distraction

   Shiny new object syndrome. Finding other activities can make it easy to put off a task.

8. Lack of motivation

   A lack of motivation or feeling uninspired to do a task can lead to procrastination.

9. Poor time management skills

   If you aren’t good at managing your time effectively this can lead to putting off tasks until the last minute.

Understanding the underlying cause can help you overcome your procrastination habits.

Fear not. There is a way out, there is a way up, and there is a way to overcome.

To overcome procrastination, you need to develop self-discipline to prioritise tasks, set realistic goals, and hold themselves accountable.

Self-discipline is the ability to control your actions and thoughts and to make choices that lead to your goals. It helps you establish structure, build good habits, increase motivation, improve focus, and develop resilience. If you want to be successful, it's essential to cultivate discipline and make it a habit in your daily life.

It’s the key to moving forward. It’s the key to feeling a sense of fulfilment, pride and a general pat on the back, well done me vibes.

But as you know, it’s not always as easy to ‘just get TF on with it’.

However, as with most things in life, it’s a choice. And if you’re wanting to do great things in life, or simply cultivate a habit of doing what needs to be done even when motivation is lacking the only thing that’s going to support you with that longer term is discipline.

Discipline sees you through on the day’s motivation lets you down.

I often get told how motivated I am with my work ethic, approach to exercise and my wellbeing. It’s not motivation. Maybe at the beginning but now? Now, it's self-discipline. When it’s hard, and it’s sometimes hard, I remind myself why I do the things I do and why I keep the commitments and promises I make to myself. It's who I am and what I do. No questions asked.

Improving self-discipline requires time, effort, and commitment.

So, what does that mean?

How to STOP procrastinating:

1. Set clear and achievable goals

Identifying what you want to achieve and setting specific, measurable goals can help you stay focused and motivated. Write down your goals and make a plan for how you will reach them.

2. Prioritise tasks

Make a to-do list and prioritise your tasks based on their level of importance. Focus on the most important tasks first and avoid distractions.

3. Remove distractions

Identify the things that distract you or tempt you to procrastinate and remove them from your environment. This can include turning off notifications on your phone or finding a quiet place to work.

4. Be more mindful

Mindfulness can help you stay focused and aware of your thoughts and actions. Practice mindfulness techniques, such as meditation, to help improve your self-discipline.

5. Reward yourself

Positive reinforcement is a powerful tool to encourage good habits. Set up a reward system for when you achieve your goals and stick to it.

6. Stay accountable

Tell someone about your goals and ask them to hold you accountable. This can help you stay on track and motivated to reach your goals.

7. Practice, practice, practice

Productivity is a habit. A learned skill. Self-discipline takes time and effort. Commit to it. The more you practice, the easier it becomes to stick to your goals and make positive choices.

Make the commitment. Take small steps. Trial and error. See what happens.

For the time you spend procrastinating, you could have done the things ten times over! Just get it done. The sense of achievement afterwards is incredible.

Rather than putting off that call, that e-mail, that proposal or an appointment. Do it. Commit to it. Finish it. And see how you feel. I guarantee you will feel a sense of accomplishment and self-worth. The buzz from the little wins is underestimated.

Those little high fives to yourself become addictive. And the pain of ‘doing’ the task, is far outweighed by the feeling of ‘it’s done’.